Barack Obama is in negotiations with Netflix to produce a series of high-profile shows.
Everyone’s favourite 44th President of the United States is hoping the show will provide him with a global platform, following his departure from the White House, reports The New York Times.
Obama allowed Netflix cameras behind the scenes in his final year in Office:
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Netflix released The Final Year, but the new project intends to highlight inspirational stories, rather than take a political stance.
Obama is hoping the show will extend his philanthropic reach and give him a direct line of communication with his adoring public, similar to the audiences he already reaches through social media.
With 101 million Twitter followers and 55 million people who’ve liked his Facebook page, Obama and Netflix – which has nearly 118 million subscribers around the world – will make quite the team.
Obama does not intend to use his Netflix shows to directly respond to President Trump or conservative critics, according to people familiar with discussions about the programming.
In fact, Obama has kept pretty tight-lipped on the goings on during the 45th Presidency, thus far.
There’ve been quite a few controversies:
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Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to the former president, said Thursday, (March 8):
President and Mrs Obama have always believed in the power of storytelling to inspire.
Throughout their lives, they’ve lifted up stories of people whose efforts to make a difference are quietly changing the world for the better.
As they consider their future personal plans, they continue to explore new ways to help others tell and share their stories.
Obama was praised towards the end of 2017 for tweeting out stories which highlight the best things about America.
Among a list of other things, he wrote:
For all the bad news that seemed to dominate our collective consciousness, there are countless stories from this year that remind us what’s best about America.
Thirty wedding guests became an organisation of hundreds of volunteers. That’s a story from 2017.
Chris Long gave his paycheques from the first six games of the NFL season to fund scholarships in Charlottesville, VA.
He added:
He wanted to do more, so he decided to give away an entire season’s salary. That’s a story from 2017. He created kits full of socks, toiletries, and food for those in need.
Just this week, Jahkil reached his goal to give away 5,000 ‘blessing bags’. That’s a story from 2017.
All across America people chose to get involved, get engaged and stand up. Each of us can make a difference and all of us ought to try. So go keep changing the world in 2018.
The Obamas, since leaving the White House, have started the Obama Foundation, a non-profit organisation, established to oversee the creation of The Barack Obama Presidential Center.
It’ll take shape at the planned presidential library of Barack Obama and a campus in Jackson Park, on the south side of Chicago, near the University of Chicago.
Chiago is where Barack and Michelle Obama grew up and raised their two children, Malia and Sasha.
The website is emblazoned with a quote from Obama, saying:
I’m asking you to believe. Not in my ability to create change – but in yours.
Under terms of a proposed deal, which is not yet final, Netflix would pay Obama and his wife, Michelle, for exclusive content which would be available only on the streaming service.
The number of episodes and the formats for the shows have not been decided.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.